toward her, landing in foam upon the rocks at her feet.
For centuries she had been a part of this land. She’d given blood, sweat, tears, and her soul to protect it—to protect those within the castle walls.
The woman she was when she first met Fallon had been shaped by years of fighting
Yet, she was changing. She could feel it inside. The things that used to matter—family, laughter, love—were things she had to work to remember.
She held out a hand and called up her goddess. Her skin shimmered as it turned iridescent and long, sharp claws extended from her fingers. She ran her tongue along her fangs.
Her goddess, Lelomai, called for death.
Larena struggled to take in each breath. Lelomai was taking control. Bit by bit Larena was losing the battle she’d won hundreds of years ago.
Lelomai’s call to let go was tempting. Larena was tired of fighting, tired of giving up everything for the safety of mortals who didn’t know she existed.
All she had to do was relinquish the last grip of her control. It would all be over quickly.
Hands, firm and strong, spun her around. She found herself looking into the dark green eyes of her husband. Fallon’s long, dark locks were dancing about his head in the wind, and the stricken look on his face told her he knew exactly what she’d been about to do.
“Doona go where I can no’ follow,” he begged.
She placed a hand over his heart after she tamped down her goddess. He’d had his own demons to fight when she first met him. She had helped him fight his addiction to alcohol, but she wasn’t sure he could help her. “It’s getting too hard to fight my goddess.”
“You’ve had control for five centuries, my love. The only way Lelomai gets to rule you is if you let her.”
“If I let go, all of this craziness inside me will cease.”
“If you let go, I’ll lose you.”
Anguish, sharp and true, rang clear in his deep green eyes. She had loved this man through centuries. How could she think of giving up on that? They had shared laughter, heartache, battles, long nights of steamy lovemaking, and a bond that couldn’t be reversed.
Larena closed her eyes and gave a vicious shake of her head to clear it. When she looked at Fallon again, whatever had taken hold of her was gone.
“I’m fading,” she told him. “I can feel it. One day you’ll come to me and I won’t know who you are.”
He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “We’ll always know each other, Larena. Our love is solid and formidable. Evil isna strong enough or brave enough to try and touch us.”
“It’s not safe for me to walk freely in the castle. You need to lock me in the dungeon.”
“Never.”
She lifted her head and traced his lips with her finger. “Always so stubborn.”
“I’m protecting you.”
“Then let the Druids spell me into a deep sleep.”
He shook his head. “Nay. I wouldna be able to reach you then. You must stay with me. You have to fight this. I’ll be here. You know I’ll help you, but you have to do this, Larena.”
He didn’t finish. But there wasn’t a need. She knew if she didn’t fight she was already lost to him.
She looked out across the turbulent sea. Engaging whatever was inside her was going to be the most difficult battle of her life. How could she refuse Fallon, though? She couldn’t. It seemed a daunting trial before her, but with Fallon beside her, she could get through anything.
Larena faced her husband and smiled. “Then let’s fight this thing.”
Relief flooded his eyes. He held out his hand, and together, they jumped to the top of the cliffs to walk back to the castle.
CHAPTER
THIRTY
It was after lunch before the rain stopped. Kissing Aisley had been a mistake. It took everything Phelan had not to make love to her right then and there.
He settled for heated kisses and having her straddle his lap as he sat on the ground. She drew his attention away from everything, which he couldn’t allow right then.
Phelan sensed not just the
And until he was, he didn’t want Aisley to know anything.
He looked out over the land. The sun was already breaking through the dense clouds, shining beacons of light over the rugged terrain of Skye. The rain coating the mountains sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight. It didn’t seem to matter what weather was on Skye, the place was truly enchanted.
“That was good,” Aisley said as she swallowed the last bite of her sandwich and reached for her water.
Phelan swiveled his head to her. “I think we should wait for the sun to dry the rocks before we proceed.”
“We could be here for an eternity. Do you think I didn’t grow up with the damp Scottish weather and don’t know how to keep my footing?”
“The Cuillin mountains are different. They were aptly named for a reason.”
She rose to her feet, dusted off her bottom, and then shrugged on her backpack. With a small movement of her hand, the fire she created disappeared. “We go now.”
Phelan couldn’t hold back his smile. The woman was spectacular when her fawn-colored eyes flashed with determination.
He used the rocks behind him to gain his feet. “Aye, we’ll go. But slowly.”
“Slow it is, then.”
He followed her out of the hollow and averted his eyes while trying not to smile when she’d taken two steps and her foot slipped on some loose pebbles.
“Fine,” she said with a huff after she righted herself. “Go on and say ‘I told you so.’”
Phelan instead cupped the back of her head and kissed her. He gazed into her eyes and whispered, “Be careful, but keep moving. Slow and steady.”
“What is it?”
“I want off this narrow section before you give me gray hair,” he lied.
She puffed out a breath, but when she took her first step, Phelan saw she was being more cautious than before. Thankfully, a half hour later they came to a wider portion of the mountain.
Phelan took the lead again. His eyes were always searching, looking for a sign of the Druids or the danger. If the threat was to Aisley, he could easily defend her and get them both to safety.
If he was the one at risk, he hoped Aisley could use her magic to get herself away.
He glanced at her and was met with a smile. Phelan knew it was the right thing to do to come to Skye. If they could contain the selmyr, then it was one less thing they had to battle.
Coming to Skye alone might not have been so wise. Yet he wanted to do something for the group of men and women who had welcomed him at MacLeod Castle. Maybe it would make up for not going to them four centuries ago.
Maybe it would help heal the wound that cut through his soul.
* * *
Aisley knew something was bothering Phelan. It was the subtle differences in the way he moved and looked around them. He’d gone from hiker to predator in less than a heartbeat.
There were no trees on the mountains. Just rock as far as the eye could see. Bright green grass carpeted the lower hills and valleys and sometimes even halfway up a mountain.
